Kriti Sanon Revisits Raksha Bandhan Ad Controversy, Says Outfit Became TV Debate

Mumbai, October 7, 2026: Actor Kriti Sanon has spoken about the controversy that followed her Raksha Bandhan advertisement, recalling how the discussion surrounding her festive outfit grew into a prime-time television debate.

Sanon discussed the episode during a conversation with Kareena Kapoor Khan on the upcoming sixth season of What Women Want. A preview of the episode shows the actor reflecting on how unexpectedly intense the public reaction became.

Kriti Sanon recalls the intense media attention

While discussing the controversy with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sanon expressed surprise that her clothing had become the focus of a televised panel discussion.

The remark came in the context of the backlash surrounding a jewellery campaign released around Raksha Bandhan. The advertisement's contemporary styling and treatment of the festival generated debate among viewers, particularly on social media.

Kareena acknowledged Sanon's reaction during their conversation, according to the show's promotional footage.

What sparked the Raksha Bandhan controversy?

The advertisement featured Sanon celebrating Raksha Bandhan with her brother while wearing a contemporary Indo-Western ensemble. Another part of the campaign showed her tying a rakhi to her pet dog, presenting the festival through a broader interpretation of family and affection.

The combination of the styling and the inclusion of the pet led to divided reactions online. Some viewers criticised the campaign for moving away from conventional representations of Raksha Bandhan, while others viewed it as an attempt to present the festival in a more contemporary way.

The campaign was subsequently withdrawn amid the controversy.

Sanon had earlier responded to the criticism

The actor had previously addressed the debate herself, arguing that the meaning of a festival should not be determined simply by a woman's clothing.

She also questioned the tendency to judge women according to what they wear, stressing that cultural values and traditions are not limited to appearance. Her response shifted the discussion beyond the advertisement itself and toward the broader issue of scrutiny faced by women in public life.

The debate goes beyond one advertisement

The controversy highlighted a familiar tension in advertising: brands increasingly experiment with contemporary interpretations of traditional festivals, while audiences can have very different expectations about how those occasions should be represented.

In Sanon's case, the discussion moved from an advertising campaign to a wider conversation about fashion, cultural expectations and the scrutiny of women's appearance.

Her latest comments on Kareena Kapoor Khan's show indicate that the episode remains memorable for her largely because of the scale of attention it received.

Kriti Sanon on What Women Want

Sanon is among the guests appearing in the upcoming season of Kareena Kapoor Khan's What Women Want. The promotional material suggests that the conversation will explore topics involving women's experiences, public judgement and expectations around appearance.

For Sanon, revisiting the Raksha Bandhan controversy offers an opportunity to reflect on an episode that began with a festive advertisement but quickly became a much larger public discussion.